South Korea has deployed approximately 200 fire trucks [1] to Gyeongnam Province to provide emergency water for drought-stricken agricultural fields.
The mobilization highlights the severity of the ongoing water shortage in the region. Without government intervention, farmers face significant crop losses as river levels drop and irrigation systems fail.
The government issued a "national fire mobilization order" for the second consecutive year [2]. This order brings in personnel and equipment from 16 fire headquarters [1] across the country. These teams are operating primarily around Milyang city and the Milyang River, with additional support extending to the Ham-an and Geoje areas [3].
Firefighters are using large-capacity pumps and water-tank trucks to transport river water to rice fields and for domestic use [2]. On-site operators said the equipment includes high-capacity drainage pumps designed to draw water from rivers [4]. According to fire-service operators, the pumps can pull 8,000 liters of water per minute [1], allowing them to supply up to five trucks simultaneously [4].
The water-tank trucks utilized in the operation have capacities ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 tons [1]. This massive logistical effort aims to stabilize the agricultural output of the province during a period of extreme dryness.
Local residents have expressed relief at the government's response. Lee Ki-jun, the village chief of Daejeon-maeul in Milyang-si, said as a farmer he is grateful for the assistance [4].
“South Korea has deployed approximately 200 fire trucks to Gyeongnam Province.”
The repeated use of a national fire mobilization order for drought relief indicates that traditional irrigation infrastructure in Gyeongnam Province is insufficient to handle recurring extreme weather patterns. By repurposing emergency fire services for agricultural support, the South Korean government is treating seasonal drought as a national security priority to prevent food instability.
